To ask if boys can wear coloured gingham school shorts?

[Makingitupaswegoalong]

DS starting school in September. I’ve never liked the grey boys’ school shorts. I think they’re horrible.

Could a boy wear the shorts version of the summer dresses in the warmer months? The ones like this:
https://direct.asda.com/george/school/shorts/light-blue-girls-gingham-longer-length-school-shorts/G008057152,default,pd.html?redirectFromInt=1&cmpid=ppc--geor-------_-dskwid-_dm&utm_campaign=pla:Fashion-School-_Performance_Max&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17501196607&gbraid=0AAAAADt8Wcm1oMWVYoBrMZRAaJmY4OxHM&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgIXCBhDBARIsAELC9ZgYG9pdeZibdgD76_xniRBLDqnyyvZArL9DdLA7VsYiWE5zGC1CWE0aAkIFEALw_wcB

The little boys round here wear a lot of brightly coloured patterned leggings.

Why couldn’t they were these shorts? Are they obviously girly? Would people bully him or think we were weird? I just think they’re nicer.

Then you should be fully aware of where this would go. Just be kind to your son and allow him to wear the school uniform in the school’s policy. If you don’t want to follow their policy then pick somewhere else. Every child wants to fit in when they first start.

My daughter has very similar shorts and loves them - she likes practicing gymnastics in the playground and complains that her pants are on show in skirts and dresses. Please don’t be so judgemental just because you don’t like them.

Also to the people saying they will get trashed my kids wear the blue gingham dresses and the shorts March - October and they wash just fine…

OP our school is very hippy-ish but even I haven’t seen a boy wearing those shorts and our uniform includes a kilt for boys. I would maybe wait and see what everyone else is wearing rather than send him in those on his first day.

Maybe that's your answer, then, @Makingitupaswegoalong - nip down to the school gates at the end of the school day, and see what the kids are wearing - that will give you the best steer on what will work at your son's school.

I have to say that my days at the primary school gates are a long time ago, but I never even saw girls wearing those shorts, never mind boys. But I do remember how grubby the boys used to get (I had three), so grey/black trousers or shorts that were easy to wash and didn't show stains, were a Godsend.

If it helps, remember that he will have plenty of time out of school, and will be able to wear all the colours he wants outside of school hours.

It is hard when your little boy or girl starts at school - it's a really big change in their life and yours.

In our case my child wore a skirt and had ZERO problems. It was their own choice. Even my homophobic ex was ok with it because the skirt is basically like a kilt.

Was it a kilt or skirt? With or without sporan?

Thread police isn't a real job you know

It's a difficult one, isn't it, @Happydays2025. On the one hand, of course a child should be able to wear what they want, without nasty comments from other children (or adults) - clothes should just be clothes, toys should just be toys, colours should just be colours - no boys' colours, boys' toys, boys' clothes - and hopefully the world is changing. But we all know these gender stereotypes exist and that some people will make nasty comments, so it is a balancing act between supporting a child to express themselves, and making sure they don't put themselves in the firing line.

I'm not sure I've expressed this particularly well - but I hope it makes sense to someone!

I agree. If he wants to go gender neutral or whatever when he’s older that’s fine but don’t force it on a 5 year old

I've always thought this. In our area, some girls wear gingham shorts in the colour of the school. Why can't boys wear them too? They'd be much comfier and cooler than the thick grey ones in summer.

If you buy the Morrison's grey shorts, the weave is so loose, that they are not that thick at all !

@Dumbdog i totally agree with you. What a shit show this thread is. In 2025 no less,

The shite show is the adults who thing a 4 yo boy in girls shorts will change the world.
No a boy in girls shorts is likely always to be remembered as the boy in girls shorts, even more so if they look like a skirt.

I'm leaving it at that, once some mainstream male celebrities start rocking up in pale blue gingham then it will be acceptable to send boys to school in gingham!

😂

Newsflash- There is no such things as “girls shorts” and “boys shorts”.

Regardless of what genitalia a child has and , whatever the design of the shorts you put them in, western civilisation as you know it is not about to collapse 😂.

I let my 3 and 5 year olds choose what they wear as long as it’s weather appropriate. They are girls so apparently that’s more acceptable but I don’t see why it should have to be different if they had a penis.

As are their parents, who would presumably see this boy when taking his classmates to and from school. It won't end well....

No, the sh*t show is grown adults thinking the world will explode because a boy wears a pair of blue gingham shorts. The ridiculous pearl clutching would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad.

Someone said children ask questions. Yes, they do. That’s great. You just give them a sensible answer - in that case that the shorts are for all children. Children, unlike many adults here, accept this very easily. Reception children play with all toys no matter their sex; they’re taught that girls can climb trees, build things, etc; and that boys and girls are equal.

I still remember my mum buying me boys' school shoes and the shit I got for wearing them. Also the all in one snow suit she made me wear when it was snowing and how I was laughed at. Kids just want to fit in, don't project what you want onto him.

Exactly this

@BreatheAndFocus - I would love to think you are right, and kids would either simply accept a boy in gingham shorts, or would just need it explained that clothes have no gender - but my fear is that there are still cruel, judgemental kids, and it only takes a few, to make a child’s life a misery.

As @garlictwist says, kids just want to fit in. I didn’t fit in at school - my mum made some of my clothes, and wouldn’t let me have clothes that even slightly fitted the ‘rules’ of what was fashionable then, and I hated it. I think it contributed to me being bullied at school.

Of course it shouldn’t be like this. No kid should be bullied for what they’re wearing, and in an ideal world, it wouldn’t happen. But I can also see why a parent would r want their child to become the bullies’ target, for something they as the parent can influence - getting them the grey shorts instead of gingham ones, for example.

Almost certainly your son will want to wear grey shorts. What you fancy is likely to get him bullied. Also, not very practical? Pull down to pee?

School here
Grey shorts can be worn by girls and boys all three terms
The gingham school dress - just summer term
I've worked in schools for over 30 years and no boy has ever worn shorts like that ...to be fair I've only seen one or two girls wearing shorts but they were attached the the top part of a dress if you see my meaning ...nightmare for going to the loo !!

But we don’t let bullies make the rules - or we shouldn’t. Otherwise we’d advise all children with differences (race, disability, etc etc) not to go out in case the bullies spot them. Of course, we don’t do that. We try to foster confidence and self-esteem, and reduce bullying to a minimum by education. I’m sorry you were bullied at school. I do think things are better now and bullying is treated more seriously. I also think children now are less likely to bully because of perceived differences, perhaps because they have a broader experience.

Also, although children that are habitual bullies will make particular comments, those things commented on aren’t the reason for bullying. Bullies look for those they perceive as weak in some way. They then identify some aspect of that person to bully them about. Some of the comments from bullies are nonsensical frankly.

Yes, there are a small number of cruel children, but the same goes for adults. You’ll never escape the small number of idiots and the cruel. We don’t let them dictate our society though. Most people aren’t bullies.

I agree with what you are saying, @BreatheAndFocus - but I am saying that I can see the other side too, and I can understand why parents would want to do what they could to keep their kids off the bullies’ radar.

I know it doesn’t tackle the bullying, and that taking a stand does make change - but as the odd-one-out, bullied kid, I understand another parent taking the pragmatic approach.

Like I said - it shouldn’t be like this. I don’t know the answers.

Children usually want to blend in and be the same as others. We try and teach otherwise but it’s quite a natural impulse.

An example of this is the boys I’ve taught who have long hair (which I love btw). They have all had it cut short before long. Without exception. I’m sure there are some kids who like to stand out but IME, generally they don’t. Even things like what you bring for you packed lunch can be commented on and can cause a child to feel self-conscious.

Kids can be cruel, school life can be hard enough. Please don’t make it harder!

I've already said it was LIKE a kilt.